Yokogawa Expands High-Voltage Power Measurement with WT1500

The increasing adoption of electric vehicles (xEVs), renewable energy systems, and energy storage technologies is driving demand for more advanced power measurement solutions. As operating voltages continue to rise and electrical systems become more complex, engineers require instruments capable of delivering high accuracy while reducing test setup complexity. To address these requirements, Yokogawa Test & Measurement Corporation has expanded its WT Series with the WT1500 Precision Power Analyzer, a new instrument that combines direct high-voltage measurement, motor evaluation capabilities, and scalable multi-channel operation in a compact platform.

The WT1500 is intended for the development, validation, and performance evaluation of powertrains, power conversion systems (PCS), energy storage systems (ESS), and other high-voltage electrical equipment. By supporting direct voltage measurement up to 2000 V DC without requiring an external high-voltage divider, the analyzer helps simplify testing while maintaining measurement accuracy.

Designed for Higher-Voltage Test Environments
The transition toward higher-voltage electrical architectures has introduced new challenges for testing laboratories. Conventional power analyzers typically require external high-voltage dividers when measuring voltages above 1500 V, increasing wiring complexity, occupying additional installation space, and potentially affecting overall measurement accuracy.

The WT1500 addresses these limitations by enabling direct measurement of voltages up to 2000 V DC within the instrument itself. This eliminates the need for external dividers in many applications, allowing engineers to build simpler and more efficient test systems.

The analyzer also streamlines motor efficiency testing by supporting resolver signal inputs alongside electrical power measurements. Traditionally, resolver and power signals have been measured independently and synchronized later using PC software. Integrating both measurements into a single instrument reduces testing complexity and shortens evaluation workflows.

High Measurement Accuracy for Modern Power Electronics
The WT1500 delivers the highest measurement performance within Yokogawa's WT Series and is designed to maintain accuracy across a wide range of operating conditions. It offers a total power accuracy of ±0.038% for DC and 50/60 Hz measurements, while achieving low-power-factor accuracy of ±0.07% of apparent power (S), making it suitable for evaluating highly efficient electrical systems.

To support different testing requirements, the analyzer incorporates two types of input elements. The high-voltage element enables direct measurements up to 2000 V DC with bandwidths reaching 300 kHz, making it well suited for applications involving power conversion systems and energy storage equipment. A second wide-bandwidth element supports measurements up to 1000 V with a bandwidth of 2 MHz, allowing accurate analysis of the fast-switching waveforms generated by modern traction inverters and xEV motors. Both input types can be used within the same instrument through a shared sensor interface, providing greater flexibility for mixed-application testing.

Compact Platform Supports Automated and Standalone Testing
Although designed in a compact 2U rack-mount format measuring approximately 88 mm in height, the WT1500 integrates a broad range of communication and automation capabilities. The analyzer supports up to four simultaneous power measurements and four motor evaluations while providing encoder and resolver signal inputs, IEEE 1588 time synchronization, CAN and CAN FD communication, and low-latency UDP data transmission.

The instrument can be remotely controlled from a PC, external monitor, or tablet, enabling integration into automated evaluation systems as well as standalone laboratory use. A front-panel user interface further simplifies instrument configuration and operation, while the compact enclosure allows easier installation within existing test racks where available space is limited.

Scalable Architecture for Multi-Channel Measurements
For larger evaluation systems, multiple WT1500 analyzers can operate together as a synchronized measurement platform. Up to five instruments can be linked, providing as many as 20 synchronized power measurement channels. In this configuration, one analyzer functions as the master controller, coordinating configuration and data acquisition across the connected units. Yokogawa has indicated that this synchronization capability will become available as an optional feature during 2026.

The WT1500 also accommodates a broad range of current measurement requirements through four dedicated current input terminals and newly developed current adapters. These adapters support Yokogawa's CT Series penetration-type sensors, CT1000S split-core sensors, and AC current clamp probes, allowing users to select current sensing solutions appropriate for different power levels and installation requirements. The first of these new adapters is scheduled for release alongside the WT1500, with additional models becoming available during 2026.

Applications Across Automotive and Energy Systems
The WT1500 has been developed for engineers working in electric vehicle development, automotive testing, renewable energy, and industrial power electronics. Typical applications include simultaneous single-phase and three-phase power measurement, inverter and e-Axle evaluation, dual-analyzer testing of multi-motor systems, and synchronized high-voltage measurement of power conversion systems and energy storage installations. Its combination of direct high-voltage measurement, motor analysis capabilities, and scalable architecture makes it suitable for laboratories developing next-generation electrified power systems.

Additional Context:This section details technical specifications and competitive benchmarking not included in the original product announcement
The launch of the WT1500 reflects the industry's broader shift toward higher-voltage electrical architectures in transportation and energy infrastructure. As electric vehicle manufacturers increasingly adopt 800 V platforms and renewable energy installations expand the use of 1500 V and higher DC systems, test equipment manufacturers are introducing instruments capable of handling these voltages without relying on external accessories that can increase measurement uncertainty and system complexity.

Competing precision power analyzers from companies such as HBK (formerly HBM), Hioki, and Keysight Technologies also support automotive electrification, inverter characterization, motor efficiency analysis, and renewable energy testing. Yokogawa differentiates the WT1500 through its combination of direct 2000 V DC measurement capability, integrated resolver signal acquisition, compact 2U rack design, and the ability to synchronize up to five analyzers for 20-channel power measurement. These capabilities are intended to support increasingly sophisticated testing requirements for electric powertrains, battery systems, power converters, and grid-connected energy storage applications.

Edited by Sucithra Mani, Induportals editor – adapted by AI.

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